GDA's Chief Executive Jenny Hopkins gave what was later described as a 'very thought provoking' speech at GAVCA's recent Annual General Meeting. In her topic 'Managing a User Led Organisation' Jenny drew on the history of Gloucestershire Deaf Association as a user-led organisation, and her experience at the helm of the charity, to set out what it means to be a ULO and the potential pitfalls. She suggested why it is inevitable that some charities can more easily become ULO's than others; the perils of tokenism; and how GDA has recently made strides to bring a better balance on its Board between the needs of beneficiary representation and the necessity of key skills for today's more challenging environment.

One GAVCA member of staff later said, "(She) told it as it was. And not many of us are brave enough to do that."